I’ve been a Port Townsend resident since 1974. In that time, I’ve seen the steady expansion of the military presences on the Peninsula.

Whereas we were free to sail Port Townsend Bay, after the dock was built on Indian Island, that area became restricted and if there was a ship at the dock, we could be challenged by gunboats.

The Hoh River watershed has been nationally recognized as the most silent wilderness in the lower 48. Now we have Navy jets disrupting its peace in exercises.

The Navy now proposes to infringe on the entire eastern shoreline of the Quimper Peninsula and Hood Canal with more exercises.

This request is being tendered when the military already owns two bases on Whidbey Island with shorefront, as well as all 4.4 square miles of Indian Island with over 7 miles of shoreline, and extensive shorefront on Hood Canal. The military needs to learn to make do with what it already has, just like the rest of us.

Beginning more than 65 years ago, the Korean War was fought to a stalemate at the cost of 36,516 American lives, 103,284 wounded and $408 billion.

The Vietnam War cost 58,219 lives, 153,356 wounded and $584 billion.

The war in Iraq cost 4,488 killed, 32,223 wounded, and destabilized the entire region. Because the Iraq war was paid for with borrowed money, the total cost with interest is projected to be over $7 trillion. After 13 years, 2,224 killed, 17,674 wounded, Afghanistan also is sliding into failure.

The military approach to global problems is morally and philosophically wrong. I’ve had ROTC training and spent six years in the military.

I know, and these statistics confirm, that the result of the military mission produces death and destruction. I oppose expansion of any military exercises on the Peninsula.

ROB PAUL

Port Townsend